Prince Harry and David and Victoria Beckham were among the hundreds of thousands spectators cheering on the 37,000 runners who set off on the 26.2-mile London Marathon today.

From fundraisers in fancy dress to amateur and elite athletes, competitors from up and down the country will take part in the famous road race today - which has attracted the highest number of participants in its 35-year history.

Prince Harry arrived at the course in a smart navy blue suit and could be seen chatting to St John's Ambulance volunteers as he prepared to hand out medals to the winners of the men and women's elite races.

The men's professional race was won by Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, a former world champion who finished in two hours, four minutes and 42 seconds. The title of the women's elite road race was taken by Ethiopia's Tigist Tufa, who made powerful late surge to beat off Kenyan Mary Keitany, recording a time of two hours, 23 minutes and 22 seconds and becoming the first Ethiopian woman in 14 years to win the London Marathon.

Meanwhile, the Beckhams were at the course earlier this morning to cheer on son Romeo who took part in the children's race.

David and Victoria, accompanied by their two other sons Cruz and Brooklyn, wore black and white 'Team Romeo' t-shirts as they watched the 12-year-old take part in the three-mile mini marathon, which occurs over the final stages of the full course.

After the race, proud Victoria congratulated her son, who completed the race in 18 minutes and 54 seconds and raised money for UNAIDS, the joint United Nations programme on Aids, and David's Unicef 7 fund. She said: 'Well done Romeo!! We r all so proud!! Running @LondonMarathon for @UNAIDS and 7 Fund x vb'

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David and Victoria Beckham were in the crowd with sons Cruz (far left) and Brooklyn (right) to support son Romeo (centre) who ran in the children's race of the London Marathon earlier this morning. The family wore t-shirts emblazoned with 'Team Romeo' to show their support

Proud brother Brooklyn Beckham shows off his 'Team Romeo' t-shirt as he poses with his medal-wearing brother following his completion of the three-mile children's race this morning. Victoria Beckham said the family were 'all so proud' of 12-year-old Romeo following the race

David Beckham smiles proudly as 12-year-old son Romeo sports his medal following the children's race (right) while Victoria congratulates the youngster (left). Romeo completed the three-mile children's race, over the final stages of the full course, in 18 minutes and 54 seconds

Prince Harry arrived at the course in a smart navy blue suit and could be seen chatting to St John's Ambulance volunteers as he prepared to hand out medals to the winners of the elite races. The royal appeared relaxed and in good spirits as he joked around with the crowd

Prince Harry was happy to pose with fans and spectators as he wandered around the course ahead of awarding medals to the elite winners

Runners cheer at the start of the London Marathon mass race in which got underway in Blackheath, south east London just after 10am

The men's elite race gets underway (pictured) just ahead of the mass race, which features fundraisers and amateurs - many in fancy dress

The title of the women's elite road race was taken by Ethiopia's Tigist Tufa, who made powerful late surge to beat off Kenyan Mary Keitany

Tufa recorded a time of two hours, 23 minutes and 22 seconds, becoming the first Ethiopian woman in 14 years to win the marathon

The men's elite race was won by Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, a world champion who finished in two hours, four minutes and 42 seconds

One man opted for a 'naked suit' as he made his way around the famous central London course with fellow fun runners and fundraisers

One runner carried a ladder around the entire route with him (left) while a woman dressed as superman collected money for charity en route

One person chose to wear a giant dinosaur figure-head as they attempted to make their way around the 26.2-mile central London course

Take a look at the route for the 2015 London Marathon

Another high-profile star spotted at the starting line this morning was Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, who only announced today that he was taking part in the marathon.

Revealing his entry, he told the BBC: 'I just thought it was quite interesting to see if you can train for a marathon in secret, get away with it and maybe get round.

When asked if he was aiming to finish in a particular time, he replied: 'My plan is to get here, get round, get to see my wife and kids, get to the pub, get home and get on the radio tomorrow. That is it.'

Conditions are reasonably good for the runners with just patchy rain and mild temperatures on a gloomy day in the capital.

An estimated 750,000 spectators are lining the streets as world record holder Paula Radcliffe takes part in her final competitive marathon.

The 41-year-old started at the head of the massed ranks, which set off just after 10am, rather than the elite field.

Her women's marathon world record of 2:15:25, set in London in 2003, is almost three minutes faster than any other woman has ever run.

She told the BBC: 'I'm proud to call myself a runner and someone who's done the London Marathon, because it's such a special event.

MARATHON FIRST AID BY NUMBERS

It takes a few tons of equipment and supplies to get runners to the finish line healthy, safe and hydrated. Here are the items that will be on hand:

* 2,000 plasters

* 250 tubes of petroleum jelly

* 40,000 foil blankets to ward of hyperthermia

* 1,250 portable toilets

* 750,000 bottles of water

'There are so many people in that family and I think that is what's so wonderful about it.

'When we finish today there are going to be 37,000 people and we've all done it, we've all run around, we've all gone through the same course and same experiences.'

In the men's race, Wilson Kipsang is bidding to become the fourth man to win three London titles.

Britain's Paralympic champion David Weir was gunning for a seventh London title in the wheelchair contest but he was pipped to the finish line by American Joshua George.

Weir, who memorably won four gold medals at London 2012, crossed the line this morning in one hour 31 minutes 32 seconds.

He said: 'I fell apart at 16 miles. I was using a different technique. It was tough, I was lucky to stay there. I had to use a short stroke and use my knuckles and not my thumbs, so I couldn't get to top speed in the final sprint.'

While the men's wheelchair race went down to the wire, the women's was a procession for the dominant American Tatyana McFadden, who was in a class of her own as she claimed her third straight title.

Six days after triumphing in the Boston Marathon, the 26-year-old shattered her own course record by almost four minutes as she crossed the line in 1hr 41mins 14secs. She won by more than two-and-a-half minutes to take the world title.

Prince Harry will present medals to the winners of the elite men's and women's races and the wheelchair competitions later today.

More than 37,000 runners from up and down the country are taking part in the 26.2-mile race, many raising thousands of pounds for charity

Fancy dress costumes were aplenty on the course today with runners keen to raise awareness and money for their chosen charities

One runner arrived dressed as Woody from Toy Story, complete with a costume featuring all of the other characters from the Pixar film

A group of four men - dubbed the Wolverhampton Bobsled Team' pose in their homemade 'Cool Runnings' costume ahead of the road race

Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, who only announced today that he was taking part in the marathon, appeared slightly nervous but in good spirits ahead of the race (left). Meanwhile, television presenter Jenni Falconer looked relaxed ahead of the 26.2-mile race which started at 10.10am

Formula 1 driver Jenson Button (left) and actress Helen George (right) pose for the camera ahead of the 26.2mile London Marathon

Classical singer Aliki Chrysochou gives a thumbs-up ahead of the London Marathon, where conditions are slightly wet and overcast

Tony Audenshaw, Emmerdale and former Brookside side, sported comical ears and held a puppet large bird ahead of today's marathon

U.S. model Christy Turlington Burns (left) covered up in a hooded top and waterproof jacket ahead of the race while footballer Lee Hendrie, who is running in support of Cure Leukaemia, braved the chilly conditions as he warmed up for the start of the 26.2mile road race

THE RESULTS: WHO WAS VICTORIOUS IN THE MEN AND WOMEN'S ELITE RACES OF THE LONDON MARATHON 2015

Looks like a wet weekend in the UK for the London Marathon

Organisers expect around 37,800 runners to start the race this year, compared with the previous record of 37,227 in 2012.

Met Office meteorologist Mark Wilson said the weather should not present any problems.

He said: 'It's not looking too bad. It will be a cloudy morning with some patchy rain on and off throughout the morning. The rain doesn't look like it will be very heavy.

'Through the afternoon it should turn generally dry with some late afternoon brightness.

'Temperatures will be fairly mild so around 8C for the run which is not so good for the spectators standing on the side of the road but pretty good running conditions.'

Five politicians are taking time off from defending their House of Commons seats in the General Election campaign to pound the streets of London.

The four Conservatives are minister for children and families Edward Timpson, Wales Office minister Alun Cairns, Graham Evans and Richard Drax.

Athelete Paula Radcliffe (centre) joined the fun runners contigent today as she competes in the final marathon of her remarkable career

Crowds cheer as the runners start to make their way across Tower Bridge in London as they continue their journey towards The Mall

This aerial view from the Tower Bridge Exhibition's Glass Flooring shows the London Marathon runners as they cross the River Thames

Crowds cheer on the elite runners as the women's race gets underway this morning. More than 750,000 spectators are expected to watch

The men's elite race got underway just after 10am this morning, with many desperate to try and get a personal best and world record

Britain's Paralympic champion David Weir was gunning for a seventh London title in the wheelchair contest but he was pipped to the finish

Joshua George, from the U.S., wins the men's wheelchair race ahead of the UK's David Weir with a time of one hour and 31 minutes

Joshua George appeared pleased as he crossed the finish line ahead of Great Britain's David Weir in the men's wheelchair marathon race

Falconer said she was proud to be raising money for charity at the event.

'You've got to remember who you're running for,' she told the BBC. 'I'm running for Cancer Research UK. There's a huge team of us out there.

'If you hammer that home in times of pain, when you're walking and struggling just remember who you're running for.'

And Jenson Button said: 'There are so many charities out there that people have raised an unbelievable amount of money for, that is the special thing about the London Marathon.

'Everyone comes together to enjoy themselves, go through pain together - physically and mentally - but also to enjoy the moment together and to raise as much money as possible.'

Guinness World Record chasers and charity fundraisers will also pound the capital's streets for their own personal targets, whether measured in pounds raised, or hours, minutes and seconds on the clock.

The Queen of Hearts wards off the rain with a bright red umbrella, while one man arrives ahead of the race with a giant ostrich costume

Made In Chelsea stars Hugo Taylor (left) and Oliver Proudlock (right) were both in good spirits ahead of the marathon this morning

However fast they run, the day is guaranteed to hold special meaning for Laura Harvey and Paul Elliott, who will marry at St Katharine Docks half way round the course.

It will also be a poignant one for Jane Sutton as she runs in memory of her son Stephen, the teenage Facebook phenomenon who passed away last year.

Some £53.2 million was raised for good causes at last year's event.

The oldest entrant is Paul Freedman, 90, from Hornchurch, Essex, while the youngest is Jonny Innes from Falmouth, Cornwall, who is celebrating his 18th birthday today.

Guinness received more than 100 requests from entrants who want to attempt a new world record. These range from the fastest marathon wearing high heels to the quickest time dressed as a framed painting.

The races started at Blackheath and Greenwich Park with the finish line on The Mall. Road closures are in force and there are delays to some public transport.